Hot this week – May 30 to June 5

This week, you will be singing your heart out on every occasion. Start with Take me out to the ball game at an exciting Goldeyes game and follow up with Row row row your boat at the MEC Paddlefest. Shakespeare era hymns can be sung at Shakespeare in the Park while new tunes can be discovered at the Back Forty Folk Festival in Morden. Here’s what’s hot this week in Manitoba…

Be a tourist in your own city for Tourism Week

May 29 to June 5
Visitor Information Centre, The Forks

Be a tourist in your own city this weekend at our Visitor Information Centre at The Forks! Tourism Week continues with two weekend events. First, come into the Centre on Saturday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm for a Mini Kids’ Festival. Kids can get their face painted and see how wacky balloon art comes to life. Our friendly mascot Toba will be on hand for photos. There are 16 Kidsfest tickets to give away all day long – we will be giving 4 tickets away at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 pm. On Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, WAVE artists take over the Centre for live demonstrations of their craft. See you there!

Light up the night

June 3
St. Boniface, Winnipeg

Discover art in St. Boniface at the 3rd edition of Nuit de ART. Head to the sculpture garden located next to the historical marquee building that is l’Hotel-de-Ville for an evening of musical performances, lighting displays, fire pits, specialty cocktails, pop-up art work and more.

Get out of this world at SpaceLand

June 4
400 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

Head In The Sand teams pup with Manitoba Music for SpaceLand: a spacey takeover of a Portage Avenue lot inspired by the famed SXSW lot parties. The afternoon and evening included live music, video projections, comedians, food trucks and more. Performers include Rah Rah, VIKINGS, Ghost Twin and Duotang.

Cheer your heart out at the ball game

May 30 to June 5
Shaw Park, Winnipeg

Peanuts, crackerjacks – you know the drill. Show your hometown pride as the Winnipeg Goldeyes take on the Sioux Falls Canaries at the May 30 Home Opener, then head back to the park all week long for games against the Canaries and the Lincoln Saltdogs. Watch the boys hit it out of the park and stick around for the post-game fireworks. Summer just wouldn’t be complete without a ball game!

Take a walking photography or bike tour in the Exchange

June 1 and 2
Exchange District, Winnipeg

Capture the Exchange Photo Tour | June 1

Photo opportunities are on every corner of the historic Exchange District, and with this tour you won’t miss a single one. Receive a one-hour photography lesson and get tips from a guest professional photographer at PrairieView School of Photography. Afterward, you will wander the Exchange and snap away.

Ride the Exchange Bike Tour | June 2

Ride on, ride on. This bike tour takes you cycling from the Forks to the Exchange District on City Cruisers from White Pine Bicycle Company. The tour includes the Death and Debauchery walking tour.

Row, row and row again at Paddlefest

June 5
FortWhyte Alive

Bring your love for paddling to the MEC Winnipeg Paddlefest, happening this weekend at FortWhyte Alive. Here, you can participate in skills clinics, demos, kayak slides, workshops (on water and off) and more. Activities are FREE with plenty of family friendly festivities. Never tried paddling before? Fear not, you can also rent a kayak, canoe or SUP, free of charge.

Keep homemade music alive

June 5
Morden

Small festival, big talent. With the goal of keeping homemade music alive in Southern Manitoba, the Back Forty Folk Festival features local musicians from all over the province. In addition to great music, attendees can enjoy yoga, food vendors, a songwriter’s workshop and an artisan market.

Fans of Game of Thrones won’t want to miss SIR’s Richard III

June 3 to June 25
Trappist Monastery Provincial Heritage Park

Journey through the Trappist Monastery Ruins for an exciting live theater production. With a track record of taking old classics and making them new again, Shakespeare in the Ruins is a unique cultural experience that draws audience members through non-traditional settings. This year’s tale centers on Richard III – and the winter spreading throughout the “glorious summer” of his family’s reign.

Discover exceptional art

June 5
Exchange District

Wander the Exchange District in search of incredible art at First Fridays. First Fridays is dedicated to bringing together artists, artist run centres, galleries, businesses and the public for a greater understanding, appreciation and promotion of the arts in the Exchange area.

Take a journey through the ages

From festivals to fossil digs, Manitoba is a place where the past and present intermingle. For history fanatics, cultural buffs and explorers of all kinds, the province offers an exciting variety of immersive activities to take you from days past to celebrations and activities of people living today. Start planning your weekend adventure with these unique experiences in Manitoba.

See dinosaurs at the Assiniboine Park Zoo

May 21 to September long weekend
Various buildings, Winnipeg

Something BIG has arrived at the Assiniboine Park Zoo for the summer. Dinosaurs Alive!® is an immersive and comprehensive dinosaur experience that allows visitors to step back in time to the prehistoric era as the lifelike dinosaurs move and roar throughout the zoo. Learn about your favourite dinosaurs or just enjoy the thrill of seeing these beasts in action. Don’t miss it!

Gaze at exceptional architecture in Old St. Boniface

Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Starting point is Old St. Boniface City Hall, St. Boniface

Find out about the people, the buildings and events that have shaped today’s Old St. Boniface. Discover the unique architecture, atmosphere and charm of a vibrant community that reflects both the determination and Joie de vivre of Franco-Manitobans. Duration: 75-90 min.

Celebrate the Pride of the Prairies

May 27 to June 5
Various locations

Join a welcoming Winnipeg’s Pride of the Prairies is one of the largest celebrations of LGBTTQ culture between Toronto and Vancouver. We invite everyone from far and wide to join our welcoming community and celebrate Pride in Winnipeg – the heart of the continent!

Enjoy exhilarating horse racing at the Assiniboia Downs

Various dates
Assiniboia Downs

Racing season is on at the Downs! With Wednesday, Friday and Saturday being the best days to watch the races at the Assiniboia Downs, there are plenty of opportunities to join in on the fun. Nothing gets the heart racing faster than the sound of thundering hooves and the encouraging yells of jockeys, especially if you have a few bucks on it. And remember, never bet on a horse named Tripod.

Visit a farmers’ market

Various locations around the province

Feast on freshly produced goodies at your local farmers’ market! This is the perfect time for you to shop for locally-produced foods and discover the real great tastes of Manitoba. Yum! Here’s a list of markets province-wide and Winnipeg-specific.

Go sky high at the air show

June 4
Southport Airport, Portage la Prairie

Experience the largest airshow in Manitoba in nearly a decade! See aerobatics by the Snowboards and our own Canadian Forces CF-18 Demo Team. Witness a search and rescue demo by Canadian Forces Search and Rescue Technicians and CC-130 Hercules, and sit on the edge of your seat as Sky hawks Parachute Team take the sky. Afterward, wander the grounds for model aircraft, vintage motorcycles and cars, a beer garden and more!

Float away with the work of Chagall

On until September 11
Winnipeg Art Gallery

Picasso once proclaimed that after Matisse, “Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour really is.” Be blown away by works of art by Chagall at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, on now until September 11. The collection features 42 lithograph prints, created in the 1950’s after Chagall met and married his second wife, Valentina. The second portion to this collection is a mini-exhibit, Chagall & Winnipeg, which tells the story about the friendship between Chagall and former WAG Director, Dr. Ferdinand Eckhardt through a series of letters, photographs and art works.

All aboard the Prairie Dog Central

June 5
Inkster Junction Station

All aboard for a fun filled, family oriented day on the Prairie Dog Central. Entertainment Express features Winnipeg’s own Chris Without the Hat, who will sketch personal caricatures for all chicldren onboard and perform his daredevil juggling act.

Celebrate cheese and community at the New Bothwell Festival

June 3 to 4
New Bothwell

Where can you find kids entertainment, pancake breakfasts, wine and cheese all in one place? The New Bothwell Summer Fair! Spend June 3 and 4 at the Summer Fair grounds for tons of entertainment, including Balloon Man John and a watermelon eating contest. And if you’re still hungry after that, head to the Wine & Cheese Festival on June 4 to taste the delectable New Bothwell Cheese and wine from Banville & Jones.

Choose your next move carefully at PrairieCon

June 3 to 5
Brandon

PrairieCon XXXVII is the Year of the Dragon – which means bigger and better than ever. Avid tabletop gamers gather for a weekend of miniatures, roleplaying, card and board games. All those Friday night games nights finally come in handy – this year, PrairieCon is hosting the Canadian National Settlers of Catan Tournament, with a grand prize of an expense-paid trip to Colorado in September to attend the International Settlers of Catan Tournament. Anyone want to trade brick for sheep?

Share the next dance

June 3
Winnipeg

Dance your heart out at Sharing Dance Day with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, where you can learn the awesome annual routine and perform it in your community, all while fundraising to bring free, quality dance programs to the province. Teach me how to dougie?

Explore the Fort

Open daily
Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada

Step back in time to the 19th century fur trade at the oldest stone fur trading post still intact in North America at Lower Fort Garry. Costumed interpreters will take you back to the mid-1800s as they re-enact events of the early days of this Hudson’s Bay Company post. Stone walls encircle the Fort’s enclosure, the largest group of original 19th century fur trade buildings in Canada.

Catch a channel cat on the Red

Whether the channel catfish is the ugliest fish to inhabit Manitoba waters is certainly a topic of debate. What isn’t up for discussion is their ability to deliver fantastic fishing action, no matter if they are big or small. You can catch these toothless fighters in lots of places in Manitoba, but if there’s one place that offers increased odds, it’s near Lockport on the Red River.

Admire murals in the west end

Monday to Saturday
West End BIZ

Discover the West End’s rich cultural diversity through spectacular murals. Wander from mural to mural and learn about the history, people, businesses and restaurants of this diverse area of Winnipeg. Expect to gain insight into the West End’s heritage, community, commerce and cuisine, all while taking in gorgeous works of art.

Hey! I'm Breanne, Content Specialist for Travel Manitoba. I work with the content team to come up with wacky ideas for our blog and social media platforms. My next pitch? Top 10 Spots to Cuddle Cats in Manitoba. You can email me at bsewards@travelmanitoba.com.